Thanks Chris for sharing your story, you guys on the g5s are legends. I don't think us infantry guys appreciated that you guys were operating 24/7. For four months straight in one of the remotest rain forest in the world. Under constant threat of detection in a very hot war. Thank you.
Thanks Daniel, we all did our bit though. The things the infantry guys went through were terrifying too. But also the guys who were in the townships - that was another story altogether 😬
Thank you for sharing your experience Chris. Really enjoyed it. From all the interviews I have watched, it is very clear that the artillery was prominent in the sucesses we had in the border war. RESPECT. God bless
I was in Rundu (Sector 20 HQ intelligence) for the entire 1987. During Ops Moduler we flew in to Mavinga every night. The one night I flew in with a replacement G5 to replace 1 that had apparently exploded. It took up all the space in the, C160 Transhall and when we took off at Rundu the whole gun shifted a little bit towards the rear. It was freakin scary, but the straps held. BTW the training camp was called Bittersoet, but it wasnt across the river. It was right next to the Grootfontein tar road about 15 kms outside sector 20 HQ.
Thanks Nikky and Chris... that was interesting and enjoyable! Mind you... I was involved with a TV crew too up there and now I've been reminded of that. Chris, if you see this... was there an Alo section to the video?
Is that Alo as in Alouette III helicopter? One landed near us one morning after Ops Excite when we were back outside Hurricane base, near Ruacana. Some guy who said he was the head of the Chaplains Corps got out and said he wanted to see the guys who had been at Cuito Cuanavale. Then he beamed at us for a few minutes, got back in the chopper and flew off, leaving us to our devices in the bush.
Hi Chris, yes, Alo as in Alouette III - I was about at Ruacana that time too but the TV bit I'm on about was somewhere near Eenana, if I remember correctly. Anyway... that Ops Excite was quite a busy time... we were in and out of Angola, doing loads of trooping and close air support... stories for another time! Thanks again, Vossie@@christurner1695
There wasn't a Du Plooy with us as far as I could remember. However, the guy that is the number 3 in the clip (aiming and elevating the gun) was not our number 3 - he must have been edited in from some other footage. Our number 3's name was De Lange, and that is certainly not him in the footage, so maybe the guy shown is your friend? They guy shown with the charge in his arms is not me, that is the number 4, Josiah Frylinck. I am circled in red in the still after the clip, in my ammo pit and about to pass the next charge to Frylinck who then placed it in the breech.
We had small, yellow, sponge ear plugs which got lost or dirty very quickly. Subsequently many guys had to go without and ended up with significant hearing loss. I managed to keep mine throughout and during Ops Excite had to be the one to fire the gun (it was actually the number 2's job) because I was the only one who had ear plugs - the rest of the crew had to close their ears with their fingers. The noise from a G5 firing on charge 3 zone 6 is incredible.
Apparently that happened to the Multiple Rocket Launcher battery the intake or two before us, so 1986-87. Apparently a round landed amongst the stables and a few horses were killed. I never understood why they put Berede there.
Net ń bietjie in my linker oor. Maar ek kan dit nie heeltemaal op die kanon blameer nie. ń Paar jare van jol by nagklubs het ook daartoe gelei. Ek het altyd my oorproppies gedra tydens ń bestoking. Die ouens wat dit nie gedra het nie het wel skade aan hulle ore opgedoen. Die G5 slag met ń Lading 3 Sone 6 was geweldig gewees. Die blare op die ground het sommer ń voet in die lug gespring en die metaal knope op ons overalls het hard teen ń ou se bors geklap as die skoot afgaan
Thanks Chris for sharing your story, you guys on the g5s are legends. I don't think us infantry guys appreciated that you guys were operating 24/7. For four months straight in one of the remotest rain forest in the world. Under constant threat of detection in a very hot war. Thank you.
Thanks Daniel, we all did our bit though. The things the infantry guys went through were terrifying too. But also the guys who were in the townships - that was another story altogether 😬
Great interview and chat, thanks Chris and Nicole.
Thanks for sharing, Chris. You guys did an awesome job 💪💯
Thanks Denis, we gave it our best shot! 😁
I was 3 SAI 81 Mortars..after spending time in Infantry School 80/81..was involved ops Protea..all respect for Gunners..good times
Thank you for sharing your experience Chris. Really enjoyed it. From all the interviews I have watched, it is very clear that the artillery was prominent in the sucesses we had in the border war. RESPECT. God bless
Thank you Kemp, it is much appreciated
Nicole is an excellent interviewer/ conversationist.
Great stuff mate, thoroughly enjoyed it!
Glad to hear Marc, we can chat about many more! 😄
Great interview Chris, really enjoyed listening to you. Regards Craig T.
Thank you Craig!
🎉Thank you Chris and Team 🎉
I was in Rundu (Sector 20 HQ intelligence) for the entire 1987. During Ops Moduler we flew in to Mavinga every night. The one night I flew in with a replacement G5 to replace 1 that had apparently exploded. It took up all the space in the, C160 Transhall and when we took off at Rundu the whole gun shifted a little bit towards the rear. It was freakin scary, but the straps held. BTW the training camp was called Bittersoet, but it wasnt across the river. It was right next to the Grootfontein tar road about 15 kms outside sector 20 HQ.
Welcome to come and tell your story to complete the picture for us, Koos
What a story.
The artillery was a critical part of the difference between the forces.
was ook in 61meg 87/88 alpha komp 19F3
Julle tente was langs ons s'n by Omuthiya.
Thanks Nikky and Chris... that was interesting and enjoyable! Mind you... I was involved with a TV crew too up there and now I've been reminded of that. Chris, if you see this... was there an Alo section to the video?
Is that Alo as in Alouette III helicopter? One landed near us one morning after Ops Excite when we were back outside Hurricane base, near Ruacana. Some guy who said he was the head of the Chaplains Corps got out and said he wanted to see the guys who had been at Cuito Cuanavale. Then he beamed at us for a few minutes, got back in the chopper and flew off, leaving us to our devices in the bush.
Hi Chris, yes, Alo as in Alouette III - I was about at Ruacana that time too but the TV bit I'm on about was somewhere near Eenana, if I remember correctly. Anyway... that Ops Excite was quite a busy time... we were in and out of Angola, doing loads of trooping and close air support... stories for another time! Thanks again, Vossie@@christurner1695
Salute / Saluut.
Hey Chris you were there with my old buddy, Gerhard Du plooy. He is in that footage
There wasn't a Du Plooy with us as far as I could remember. However, the guy that is the number 3 in the clip (aiming and elevating the gun) was not our number 3 - he must have been edited in from some other footage. Our number 3's name was De Lange, and that is certainly not him in the footage, so maybe the guy shown is your friend? They guy shown with the charge in his arms is not me, that is the number 4, Josiah Frylinck. I am circled in red in the still after the clip, in my ammo pit and about to pass the next charge to Frylinck who then placed it in the breech.
What a great guy thanks to him for telling his story!!! He could have gone back to Britain and chose to fight our war with us!!
Couldn't do that Willy, I owed the guys who had done it for me in the years before!
Bravo to you Chris!!! From my side thanks a lot the Brits were always great soldiers!!!
Thanks' Chris and Nicole. Chris did you use any ear protection?
We had small, yellow, sponge ear plugs which got lost or dirty very quickly. Subsequently many guys had to go without and ended up with significant hearing loss. I managed to keep mine throughout and during Ops Excite had to be the one to fire the gun (it was actually the number 2's job) because I was the only one who had ear plugs - the rest of the crew had to close their ears with their fingers. The noise from a G5 firing on charge 3 zone 6 is incredible.
As all good artilleryman would reply...."What did you say!!!"
Did Artillery ever missed their target while training at Potch and gave Berede a scare?
Apparently that happened to the Multiple Rocket Launcher battery the intake or two before us, so 1986-87. Apparently a round landed amongst the stables and a few horses were killed. I never understood why they put Berede there.
Is jy vandag hardhorend?
Net ń bietjie in my linker oor. Maar ek kan dit nie heeltemaal op die kanon blameer nie. ń Paar jare van jol by nagklubs het ook daartoe gelei. Ek het altyd my oorproppies gedra tydens ń bestoking. Die ouens wat dit nie gedra het nie het wel skade aan hulle ore opgedoen. Die G5 slag met ń Lading 3 Sone 6 was geweldig gewees. Die blare op die ground het sommer ń voet in die lug gespring en die metaal knope op ons overalls het hard teen ń ou se bors geklap as die skoot afgaan
Onthou die pismotte goed
Lelike goed. Ek mis hulle glad nie.